Refrigerator with cladding and visual effects

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a cooler having a front side defining an opening for allowing retrieval of product from the cooler and a first, right exterior side and a second, left exterior side. A grill is located below the door opening having openings for allowing air to pass through. A light is located behind and adjacent to the louvers for casting light downwardly onto the flooring in front of the cooler to create a visual effect.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/789,414, filed Apr. 5, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to refrigerators. More specifically, the invention relates to a refrigerator incorporating visual effects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerating merchandisers are well known and typically comprise a refrigerator body having a front glass door to show the product that is for sale within, while maintaining the proper temperature of the interior of the refrigerator. In the past, it has also been common to include advertising on the exterior for what is being sold within the cooler, particularly by displaying the major brand of product, commonly soda, that is held within.

The function of the labeling is to create attention for the refrigerator/merchandiser to attract and draw in consumers. To that end, a merchandiser that incorporates more items of interest or more interesting items or effects, without becoming an annoyance within the environment in which it is placed, is generally desired.

Moreover, when the refrigerator/merchandiser is converted to a different brand, this generally creates an issue as to relabeling of the merchandiser. Therefore, there is a need for a refrigerator/merchandiser that may be easily converted between brands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cooler having a front side defining an opening for allowing retrieval of product from the cooler and a first, right exterior side and a second, left exterior side. A grill is located below the door opening having openings for allowing air to pass through. A light is located behind and adjacent to the louvers for casting light downwardly onto the flooring in front of the cooler to create a visual effect rather than upwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a grill according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the grill according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial front perspective view of a refrigerator with the grill removed and having a light installed according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial front perspective view of a refrigerator with the grill removed showing a mounting flange for a light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerator/merchandiser comprising an easily removable cladding material that provides the function of attracting the interest of a potential consumer and is easily replaceable. Moreover, the preferred embodiment includes ground effect lighting that provides a point of interest for attracting a potential consumer.

In that regard, the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. In FIG. 1, there is provided a refrigerator or cooler 10 having a swinging front door 12 with a clear glass front. The refrigerator 10 defines a right side 14 and a left side 16. Behind the front door 12 and within the refrigerator 10 is a volume that is maintained at a desired temperature. Cans 18 placed upon shelving 20 fill this volume in accordance with the prior art.

The sides 14 and 16 of the refrigerator 10 are covered by a cladding material 22, preferably made from a light weight material such as aluminum or plastic. The cladding material 22 shown in FIG. 1 comprises, in the embodiment shown, diamond plating-type material to provide an eye-catching point of interest to attract a consumer. The cladding material 22 is preferably attached to the both sides 14 and 16 of the refrigerator 10 by one or more mechanical fasteners 24, most preferably a rivet. Rivets are preferred because the rivet can be removed by drilling it out to remove the cladding, but not so easily removed that the rivet can readily be removed by a thief or vandal. The cladding material 22 may also be attached with a double-sided tape or light adhesion glue.

The cladding material 22 may optionally have a cutout 26 to display a graphic 28 on the side 14 or 16 of the refrigerator 10 or the cladding material 22, itself, may not include a cutout and have a graphic applied directly to the cladding material 22. In either instance, the cladding material 22 may be easily removed from the sides 14 or 16 of the refrigerator 10 and replaced by cladding material 22 having a different graphic so that a refrigerator 10 may be quickly converted to different branding.

It is important to note that the cladding material itself does not form a structural part of the refrigerator 10, but rather is an additional item applied directly to the refrigerator 10 sides 14 and 16. If the cladding material 22 were a structural member, the cladding would be more difficult to remove.

Further, below the front door 12 is located a louvered grill 30, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in phantom view in FIG. 5. The grill 30 most preferably comprises a curved front 32 that is bowed outwardly. Louvers 34 allow air to pass through openings created by the louvers 34 in the grill 30 to reach a refrigeration condenser 36 (FIG. 4) located behind the louvers 34.

Referring to FIG. 4, a front edge 38 of the refrigerator 10 is not bowed outwardly. In this manner, when the grill 30 is placed over the front edge, there is a gap 33 between the grill 30 and the front 38 of the refrigerator 10. Mounted behind the front 38 of the refrigerator 10 is a light 40. The light 40 most preferably a fluorescent light fixture and bulb having a colored cover placed over it. However, the light could also be a colored fluorescent tube, or an incandescent bulb or a halogen bulb or a light emitting diode without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the light 40 (not shown) is mounted to a flange 42 that is attached to the refrigerator 10 and extends upwardly. Attached to the flange 42 are a pair of clips 44 that removably attach the light 40 to the refrigerator 10. The grill is shown in phantom outline in FIG. 4 leaving a gap between the front 38 of the refrigerator 10 and the front of the grill 30.

With the light 40 being mounted in the manner described above, the light may be seen shining on an area 46 on the floor in front of the refrigerator 10 (FIG. 1). The light shining on the floor provides an eye-catching point of interest that will attract customers and provide an appearance that is consistent with the product image.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 

1. A cooler comprising: a front side defining an opening for allowing retrieval of product from the cooler and a first, right exterior side and a second, left exterior side; a grill located below the door opening having openings for allowing air to pass through; and a light located behind and adjacent to the louvers for casting light downwardly onto the flooring in front of the cooler to create a visual effect rather than upwardly.
 2. The cooler of claim 1 wherein the grill forms an outwardly convex shape and the cooler, behind the grill, forms a generally flat plane, such that a gap is created between the convex grill and the flat plane of the cooler behind the grill to allow light to shine downwardly from behind the grill onto a floor.
 3. The cooler of claim 1 further comprising a cladding material removably attached to the first and second exterior sides of the cooler, the cladding material applied over the structural elements of the cooler such that when the cladding material is removed the cooler still has a finished exterior surface, the cladding including a name or graphic associated with a particular brand of product.
 4. The cooler of claim 1 further comprising a cladding material removably attached to the first and second exterior sides of the cooler, the cladding material applied over the structural elements of the cooler such that when the cladding material is removed the cooler still has a finished exterior surface, the cladding being sized and shaped to identify a particular brand of product.
 5. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the cladding material is made from a lightweight polymeric material.
 6. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the cladding material is aluminum.
 7. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the cladding is attached by rivets.
 8. The cooler of claim 3 is attached by an adhesive.
 9. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the cladding includes a cutout portion.
 10. The cooler of claim 4 wherein the cladding material is made from a lightweight polymeric material.
 11. The cooler of claim 4 wherein the cladding material is aluminum.
 12. The cooler of claim 4 wherein the cladding is attached by rivets.
 13. The cooler of claim 4 is attached by an adhesive.
 14. The cooler of claim 4 wherein the cladding includes a cutout portion.
 15. A cooler comprising: a front side defining an opening for allowing retrieval of product from the cooler and a first, right exterior side and a second, left exterior side; a door comprising a clear glass window such that product contained within the cooler are visible to potential purchasers when the door is closed; a grill located below the door opening having openings for allowing air to pass through, the grill forming an outwardly convex shape and the cooler, behind the grill, forming a generally flat plane, such that a gap is created between the convex grill and the flat plane of the cooler behind the grill to allow light to shine downwardly from behind the grill onto a floor; a light located behind and adjacent to the louvers for casting light downwardly and not upwardly onto the flooring in front of the cooler to create a visual effect; and a cladding material removably attached to the first and second exterior sides of the cooler, the cladding material applied over the structural elements of the cooler such that when the cladding material is removed the cooler still has a finished exterior surface, the cladding including a name or graphic associated with a particular brand of product;
 16. The cooler of claim 15 further comprising a cladding material removably attached to the first and second exterior sides of the cooler, the cladding material applied over the structural elements of the cooler such that when the cladding material is removed the cooler still has a finished exterior surface, the cladding being sized and shaped to identify a particular brand of product.
 17. The cooler of claim 15 wherein the cladding material is made from a lightweight polymeric material.
 18. The cooler of claim 15 wherein the cladding material is aluminum.
 19. The cooler of claim 15 wherein the cladding is attached by rivets.
 20. The cooler of claim 15 is attached by an adhesive. 